special edition
We are delighted to have been contacted by Diana Wilson about a diary, written
by her Great Aunt Di, detailing and picturing her holiday aboard the wherry
yacht ‘Spree’ in 1911.
In the main newsletter we have published extracts from this diary but here, online, we
have the space to let you enjoy them in full. Diana writes:
“ In 1911 Alec Scoones, 35, spent a fortnight holiday on the
wherry ‘Spree’ with his cousin Mildred. A chaperone was
needed, so his sister Di, 45, went too. The diary is hers,
written in indelible pencil in a black note book with her self
developed photos and some postcards.
Alec attended the Merchant Naval School from 13 and at 15
he went to sea as a cadet and served six years. In 1900 he
trained as a civil engineer. In 1911 he was on leave from
building railways in Brazil. The romance with Mildred was
short lived.
Di never married. She was typical of her class and time.
Their father, a rector, died in 1891 leaving Di £3000 which
brought some income but not independence, so she kept
house for an academic brother. In 1894 she travelled to
Monte Video to visit a brother working there and in 1899
made a trip with him to Japan. However she was pleased to
holiday on the Broads with her youngest brother Alec. “
July 1st
Left from Liverpool St. at 10am with Alec and Mildred and reached Wroxham, very late, at 2.15. Lunch at
King’s Head Hotel. Accepting the hints of a man at our table who claimed 25 years acquaintance with the
Broads we bought yards of mosuuito muslin. (It remained unused). We repaired to Messrs Loynes wharf.
Found The Spree moored alongside and ready
for our occupation - the luggage having been put
on board. While Alec went off to Roy’s stores to
get in eatables etc. we proceeded to unpack.
Mildred took the single cabin into which with
great dexterity she was able to curl herself. I had
the double cabin and proceeded to make good
use of every nail and string available. The saloon
contained a centre table with flaps - 4 bunks
round, 2 long seats and a very short piano, a
good hanging lamp and several lockers.
Pictured, from top right: photographs of the wherry Spree,
moored
...continued
Up went the sail about 6pm and we slowly sailed down the Bure. On the
right pretty bungalows and gardens - good thatched roofs with wavey
patterns cut along the ridge tops. About 7 o’clock we anchored on the
bank opposite the mouth of Wroxham Broad where we got a view of the
sunset. After dinner in the saloon were soon out in the dinghy exploring
the Broad. Lots of water lilies and picturesque banks of reeds, a boat or
two and some tuneful thrushes. By 9pm we were on board preparing for
bed.
Sunday July 2nd.
George the skipper and Tom the youth were astir soon after 7 and by
10am we were sailing round the Broad with a nice fresh breeze. Alec at
the helm - the mop going overboard and we had about 3 turns to get it
back. We soon left and went further down the river, past Horning to
Ranworth Dike up which we went a small way and anchored. In the
evening had a long paddle in the dinghy among the reeds and water
fowl - shrouded in white mist.
(We find on board there is so much to do there is no time to do anything
and by the time work, books writing case, glasses, cameras, drinks,
chocolates have been collected, cushions shawls etc. arranged, it is
time to go to lunch - a siesta follows and then it is time for tea. The flat
meadows with a great scarcity of flowers present a strangely
uninterrupted vista of green - the landscape varied by many windmills,
white sails in all directions - herds of many cattle and horses grazing in
the pastures.)
Monday July 3rd
We got onto the main river and turned up the Ant. Alec’s first attempt at
quanting resulting in his nearly taking an unpremeditated header and all
hands having to rescue the pole as the boat caught her. We sped from
side to side till Ludham Bridge was reached and there we tied up by the
old red brick windmill in gorgeous sunshine. While Alec went to the
village pub Mildred and I wandered down a delightful country road and
culled the blossoms from the hedges. Photographed horses. We rendez
-voued for lunch, after which Alec and Mildred boarded the dinghy and
with sail up left for Barton Broad in a nice breeze. I slumbered
peacefully while George searched the country for green peas and fruit.
The others returned as the wind dropped.
After dinner we strolled along the road and enjoyed the larks and
thrushes. They never seem to go to bed in
this part of the world. They sing me to sleep
and are at it when I wake. Hay making was in
full swing. We returned and made music till
time to turn in.
Pictured, from top right: photograph of the bankside,
postcard of the Bure, postcard of Horning Mill photograph of
George the skipper and (bottom right) photograph of the Ant
towards Stalham